How to Dress for a Casual Wedding

When a wedding invitation asks for guests to come in casual dress, the hosts are typically asking you to show up in fancy business attire. For women, that means skipping the elaborate dresses in favor of more relaxed separates or more casual dresses. There are several simple clothing options that allow women to be comfortable yet stylish for an important occasion like a wedding. Here are a few suggestions for finding the perfect outfit.

Casual Wedding Attire:

Think about separates. When putting together a casual wedding outfit, stay away from formal gowns and cocktail dresses. Instead, opt for separates that you would wear in an office, like dress pants, pencil skirts, and cotton sundresses. For a fall or winter wedding, try a tailored pair of wide-leg wool trousers with a silk top. If you're attending a wedding in the spring or summer, try a printed maxi dress made of jersey cotton. Pair it with a lightweight cardigan or wrap sweater for unpredictable weather.

Pick shoes that dress up the outfit. The shoes you choose will be key for dressing up your casual outfit to make it appropriate for a wedding. To get a better feel for the best type of footwear, find out why the wedding couple has requested casual attire. If the wedding events will be held at a location with nontraditional activities for the guests, you want to be prepared. If plans include boarding a boat, wear flat sandals with a chiffon maxi skirt. For outdoor fall or winter weddings, stay warm by pairing wedge booties with thick tights under a dress.

Choose a handbag to pull it together. Instead of bringing a regular bag to a wedding, stash your essential items in a casual clutch. Add a pop of color by pairing a bright-colored leather wristlet with a neutral-toned outfit or choose a subdued oversized clutch made of rich leather to let your outfit stand out.

Accent the outfit with accessories. Casual wedding attire can be made dressier by adding jewelry with sparkle. Set off a simple black blouse with a long pendant necklace or a stack of shiny silver bangles. If the wedding will be outside during the day, accessorize with a wide-brimmed hat or a casual straw fedora.

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